Sep 2, 2016 - Etosha National Park 2

Etosha National Park 2 31 August2016 Up at a modest 6 o'clock for breakfast ay 6.30. On the road by 7.30 to re-visit some of the waterholes and to visit the ones we missed yesterday. No queue at the Park gate, and amazingly we were through pretty quickly. As we had been in the Park yesterday they had our details on their computer! Started at Klein Namutoni, the Dik-dik Drive, Koinagas, Chudop, Kalkheuwel, Ngobib, and Springbokfontein, Batia, Okerfontien again, then along the Doring Drive to Namutoni, Klein Okevi, Groot Okevi and Tsumcor....

Sep 2, 2016 - Etosha National Park

30 August 2016 Still up early as we had to drive to our next tented camp on the other side of the Park, plus we wanted to see as much as we could of the animals. The Park closed at 5.30. A full breakfast today to keep us going, packed, loaded the car and we were off. There was a queue at the Park gates yesterday, but today only two cars in front of us, so quickly through (well as quickly as the Park Officials would allow!) and on to the first waterhole, Ombika, where we saw the lion yesterday, but no luck today, just the usual collection of...

Aug 31, 2016 - Ongava Tented Camp

29 August 2016 Happy 60th Birthday, Ruth! Up early as we were going on a game drive, breakfast then joined the land rover for the drive. Pete and Donna joined us, they were a slightly older couple who had been on many trips to this part of the world. We headed out of the Ongava Reserve to the entrance gate for Etosha to join the queue. Passports required! After about 20 minutes we were in the Park, had to go to Okaukuejo for Leon to pay the entrance fees, this was not done at the gate for some strange reason, but hey, TIA (this is Africa!)....

Aug 31, 2016 - Mowani Mountain Camp

24 August 2016 Up at 5.30 to join the 'Elephant Drive', a particular speciality of the camps in the area, Damaraland. The elephants in question are desert adapted, they are smaller than their lowland cousins, have bigger feet to walk across the sands and can go longer without water So a quick breakfast then we joined our guide, Attan, into the 4x4 and off we went. Down the slope from the camp and out into the open, a few trees, mainly at the edge of the ephemeral rivers (only have water in them after heavy rains in the mountains). We saw a...

Aug 31, 2016 - To Etosha

28 August 2016 Not too early a start today, no game drive. Opened the blinds to see eight oryx, led by a huge male, walking to the waterhole opposite our bedroom. They looked stunning in the early morning light. They circled the waterhole, checking out the nearby bushes, before going in for a drink. A leisurely breakfast, caught up on the news about the lions, Tullamore has met up with the lionesses, then back to the room to pack. The flight out wasn't until 10.15 so we had time to relax. I did wander over to the waterhole and discovered...

Aug 30, 2016 - Swakopmund to Mowani Mountain Camp

24 August 2016 Mowani Mountain Camp A long drive ahead of us today, some 500 km, so wve were up fairly earlt, breakfasted and on the road by nine. We drove north along the coast, a bright sunny day but lingering patches of fog near the beach. The landscape was pretty desolate, mile after mile of the salt road through flat sand and rock, occasional lichen fields, a few fisherman fishing off the beach,in the crashing waves. Soon passed Henties Bay and turned right to head inland, off the salt road and on to gravel roads. Steadily climbing...

Aug 25, 2016 - Blog Eight - Namibia Part Two

Blog Eight – Namibia Part Two Monday 22 August Not surprisingly we were up early packed, breakfasted and on the road by 7:00am and on our way to the western border of Etosha National Park and Andersson’s Camp. Today was a long day of driving with a planned stop at a Himba Village and a local school. Michael had purchased some basic supplies for the Himba people a few days back and we had also purchased stationery supplies for the kids at the school. We were farewelled by some giraffes and zebras and various bird life on the way out. We...

Aug 22, 2016 - Swakopmund

22 August 2016 Swakopmund Guesthouse Up at 7 as we had been booked, as part of our trip package, on a 'Living Desert Tour'. So, an early breakfast and out to meet Burger, our guide for the day. We collected another four people from a different guesthouse and off we went to the desert. It was a beautiful day, completely cloudless and yesterdays strong westerly wind replaced by a gentle warm wind from the interior. We drove south to the dune area between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, off the road into the sand dunes. It was wonderful to see, not...

Aug 22, 2016 - Desert, desert and yet more desert......

Swakopmund Guesthouse 21 August 2016 Up at a little more modest hour this morning, the skies were beautifully clear and the sun was shining. A great start to the day. Breakfasted, packed and we were on our way. The red dunes were very red in the early morning sun as we drove out of the resort/ reserve. Stopped to collect some xxxxseeds - for use as light pulls back home! We called in to see the Sesrium Canyon, not on the scale of the Grand Canyon, but impressive nonetheless, it wound down the valley of the Tsauchab River, now dry but must...

Aug 21, 2016 - Blog Seven - Namibia Part One

Blog Six – Namibia Part One Tuesday 16 August 2016 A very early start this morning being up at before 6:00 to pack, have a bit of brekkie and then being picked up at 7:00am to take us to a camera shop in Windhoek who had agreed to open early so we could buy Makena a new point and shoot until we get to Joburg. Michael (our driver from last night) is also our guide for the next ten or so days and he picked us up in the very long wheelbase troupe carrier that is equipped with four rows of seating. We were only expecting us and four on the tour...

Aug 20, 2016 - Welcome to Namibia

19 August 2016 Kullala Desert Lodge Duly collected by the Emirates car and delivered to LHR in good time. The M25 was pretty congested on the approach to the airport turnoff but the driver knew a different route, past T5, along the perimeter road and in to T3. Checked in and off to the lounge for a spot of lunch and a glass of champagne. The A380 flight was fine, food and service were excellent, a short wait at Dubai then on to to the B777 flight. Not nearly as spacious as the Airbus but comfortable enough and once again the food and...

Aug 20, 2016 - On the road...South!

19 august 2016 Kulala Desert Resort Up at eight, shock horror it was heavily cloudy! Wheres the African sunshine? It wasnt cold and the sun did peer through the clouds from time to time but still, it wasnt what we expected. We re-packed to make things more manageable then off for a light breakfast - good coffee, muesli, cold meats, cheeses, fruit and pastries. The tour company called to say the car was ready, they came to the hotel and took us back to the car. It was all sorted and we were soon on our way. Ultimate Safaris presented Ruth...